If you're like many people, your perception of what hypnotherapy is may have come from TV, Films or the stage, and as such, you may have some questions you want answering.

Below are answers to some of these questions, however should you have a question not listed or would like to discuss how I can help you, then call me on 01772 499046, or email me by clicking here.

What is Hypnosis and how does Hypnosis work?

Hypnosis is just an 8 letter word that conjures up so many images. A simple definition of hypnosis is that it's a shift from the conscious thinking mind to the unconscious emotional mind, and we access the unconscious mind because that's where all our beliefs, values and automatic programs are stored.

It's often these beliefs, values and automatic programs that create the issues and problems in our lives today. A typical example of an automatic program would be a phobia, such as s spider phobia that just runs on it's own without any conscious effort from you.

Can I be Hypnotised?

Everyone can be Hypnotised, in fact you already are, it's a part of everyday life where we all willingly experience hypnosis several thousand times a day. Such as when you become focussed in a conversation, a good book, film or video game. These are all everyday examples of hypnosis or trance states.

In a therapeutic setting for hypnosis to work you have to want it to happen, expect it to happen and allow it to happen.

I guess it all boils down to the questions of are you ready for change? and are you willing to work with and be part of the process?

Does Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy work?

A study by American Health Magazine reported the following findings:

Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions

Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions

Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after 6 sessions

The study highlights the fact that Hypnotherapy is more effective and works quicker than traditional talk therapies or psychoanalysis.

What stops it working?

That would be you either consciously or unconsciously through resistance or fears about the process. Any resistance often comes about through a misconceptions and fears created through TV and stage shows around what hypnosis is.

For the majority of people, hypnosis and the process of it is new. Often beliefs and misconceptions are formed for TV, film or stage shows

Hypnosis isn't mind control, you have to be a part of it. For hypnosis to take place in a therapeutic setting you have to want it to happen, expect it to happen and allow it to happen.

Common questions or fears are: Will I lose control when hypnotised? Will I be able to move? Will I be able to talk? Will I get stuck in the hypnotic state?

Often clients talk about how they expected to be put under, or in some unconscious out of control state, or possessed during Hypnosis. Not true and not even close.

Hypnosis isn't mind control and it isn't about reprogramming you. If it was then you could simply listen to a tape and you're problems would go away. You'll have all the control during a Hypnotherapy session that you have at any other time. It's in your control whether this works for you or not, as you are very much part of the healing process.

So that if you don't like something you can tell me. If you have to move around to get comfortable you can. If you ever needed to go to the toilet, you'll be able to.

And if you don't understand what I'm asking, you can just ask me! If I don't understand what you say, I'll just ask you.

My job is to help people connect with their unconscious mind as the unconscious has the keys to successfully changing your life, if all other conscious, thinking and talking attempts have failed.

How many sessions will I require?

Effectiveness of the therapy doesn't only depend on the number of sessions, but also on your commitment to practice some of the techniques between the sessions. That said, we do have the one session miracles where we get to the root of the issue and clear it. Most of my clients begin to notice changes after the first setowards their ultimate therapy goal within 4 to 8 sessions, but this largely depends on the severity of their problems.

What does trance feel like?

As there is no specific hypnotised feeling, everyone experiences trance differently. Most people experience a very relaxed, lethargic and pleasant state of mind, similar to that miles away
feeling you probably find yourself in from time to time when you let your mind wander and are surprised at how normal and natural hypnosis feels.

Although most people associate trance and hypnosis with relaxation, neither of those are pre requisites for hypnosis, and relaxation is not hypnosis. Relaxation is physical, while hypnosis is mental. Daydreaming is a good description.

It's an entirely natural state; every time you get absorbed in a book or a TV programme you are in trance. For some of my clients, it's the most relaxed they have felt for years.

What Can Hypnosis Do?

Hypnosis can allow us to create rapport and communicate with your deepest inner self, and allow the inner self to speak. It allows us to make beneficial, life affirming positive changes directly to the sub-conscious mind for positive change.

What Can't Hypnosis Do?

Hypnosis cannot cause us to act in a way that would contradict our moral or ethical values. Hypnosis will not cause us to reveal secrets, betray confidences or act in an irrational or immoral manner.

What is Hypnotherapy and how does Hypnotherapy work

The short description is that hypnotherapy is therapy whilst you are in hypnosis. It's a form of psychotherapy that enables you to enlist the help of your unconscious mind
to bring about therapeutic changes. I will help you to access your inner resources to achieve realistic goals, and we normally do this by inducing a 'hypnotic trance', which is simply a
state of altered awareness, not sleep or unconsciousness. It often surprises people that you don't necessarily need your eyes closed. Trance may be described as a 'natural learning state'.

What is Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is defined by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy as a process "to help clients gain insight into their difficulties or distress, establish a greater understanding of their motivation, and enable them to find more appropriate ways of coping or bring about changes in their thinking and behaviour. Psychotherapy involves exploring feelings, beliefs, thoughts and relevant events, sometimes from childhood and personal history, in a structured way."

What is Hypno-Psychotherapy

Hypno-Psychotherapy is where hypnosis is used as the primary means of delivering psychotherapy. It is an integrative psychotherapy which utilises many techniques from other forms of psychotherapy.

In other words, a hypno-psychotherapist can work with everything that a hypnotherapist works with, but is also qualified to work with deeper psychological issues.

Typically these deeper issues can be abuse such as domestic, sexual, physical or emotional, both in the past and present. Self harm and suicidal thoughts. Guilty secrets. Problems with eating, such as purging or binging. Disturbing thoughts, wishes or dreams and nightmares. Sexual issues

These are just a few of the things that I work with and that you can discuss with me in confidence.

What is emotional freedom technique (EFT)?

EFT is a technique that uses the energy meridians in our body to release and let go of negative emotion. The basic principle of EFT is that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system

When we think of an uncomfortable thought or memory, it disrupts the body's energy system, creating a blockage and negative emotion. Many ailments and illness's have been attributed to this blocked energy, and so by
releasing the trapped negative energy, we can let go of the pain also.

You could consider EFT to be a physical version of Acupuncture.

What is Regression Hypnotherapy?

From a hypnosis stand point, many issues can be dealt with through direct suggestion, and this is most people's initial idea of what hypnosis is. Direct suggestion hypnosis can be very effective with helping someone overcome
certain habits and beliefs, and typical examples would be with smoking and weight loss.

But sometimes these problems run deeper than simply a bad habit, and this is where we look at other ways of getting to the root of the problem.

Most of the problems which trouble people can typically be traced back to feelings such as guilt, fear, anger, sadness or feelings of loss, and these feelings are almost always connected to past experiences where the negative belief or behaviour started.

These are memories and beliefs that if we think about them now may make us feel bad, because they still have an emotional charge.

Through the use of hypnotherapy, we work together to uncover the deep subconscious blocks that may not be apparent with traditional therapeutic techniques, we then release and neutralise these uncomfortable emotional anchors.

Once these blocks are released your conscious and subconscious mind will then be an open fertile ground for accepting new positive suggestions for change through direct suggestion.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness means becoming more aware of what's going on in your body, in your mind and in your environment right here, right now. It's about being present in your life. Instead of rushing through our lives always trying to get somewhere else, it allows us to appreciate our lives.

I work with clients who have always been looking for the next distraction from life. Mindfulness, hypnotherapy and EFT can help us to be less swept away by our powerful, habitual currents of thought and emotion, which can manifest as stress, depression, negative thinking, anxiety, anger, resentment or self-doubt.

Is it confidential?

The information disclosed to the therapist within the sessions is confidential. Information will usually only be passed to a third party if it is part of an agreed referral to other health professionals that will
help the client. However, there may be a legal obligation on the part of the therapist to pass information to the relevant authorities concerning criminal activities or if there is a concern about potential harm to others.

What's the next step?

Is it time for you to take that first step to take back control? If so, then call me on 01772 499046, or email me by clicking here.

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